Cognitive Evaluation Theory

VARIABLES
“CET is framed in terms of social and environmental factors that facilitate versus undermine intrinsic motivation…”
(Ryan and Deci, 2000: 70). The variables considered in this theory are competence and autonomy.

“CET was presented by Deci and Ryan (1985) as a subtheory within SDT that had the aim of specifying factors that explain variability in intrinsic motivation. CET is framed in terms of social and environmental factors that facilitate versus undermine intrinsic motivation ....” (Ryan and Deci, 2000: 70).

CET focuses on two fundamental needs - perceived competence and autonomy which are enhanced or diminished based on environmental and social factors. Perceived competence accompanied by feelings of autonomy have been shown to have a positive impact on intrinsic motivation.

CET propositions:

Environment and social-context lead to feelings of competence which, in turn, have a positive affect on intrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation is positively impacted when people feel competent and autonomous or self-determined.

When people engage in activities for internal rather than external reasons (locus of causality), there will be a positive affect on intrinsic motivation.

For activities that do not hold intrinsic interest, "...the principles of CET do not apply, because the activities will not be experienced as intrinsically motivated to begin with. To understand the motivation for those activities, we need to look more deeply into the nature and dynamics of extrinsic motivation" (2000: 71). Here Ryan and Deci propose the organismic integration theory (OIT) to identify different forms of motivation. (2000: 72)

CET research is called into question by Carton who argues that "...three variables that may have caused the different effects of tangible rewards and praise on intrinsic motivation have not been controlled in previous research: (a) temporal contiguity, (b) the number of reward administrations, and (c) discriminate stimuli associated with reward availability." (Carton, 1996: 242)